Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

From our initial check-in to every morning and evening at meal times, the team could not do more for you. Their beautiful, warm smiles and excellent hospitality made you feel like you were staying with a relative / family member. The food was out of this world with the chefs surprising us everyday with their talent - were we blown away by the Mozambique seafood or what. Unbelievable - Those prawns - actually the size of Lobsters were ‘next level’ and sumptuously prepared. I was equally surprised on my birthday with a cake and warm Portuguese singing by the fabulous team which was the icing on the cake for me so thank you , thank you and thank you. We will definitely return. I would add they do need to promote the Spa a bit more as it is somewhat feels like an afterthought when asked about and this is where they could make their money.

I've read a couple of negative reviews of this place and was a little nervous about going but honestly- I could not find one thing to complain about. The staff are so inviting and friendly- nothing was too much trouble for them. The food was great- there was a decent selection to suit any palate and everything we had was really delicious and packed with flavour. They had a large selection of all- inclusive drinks and the service was great- nothing we ordered was out of stock or unavailable. We stayed in the beach villa and the room was stunning- the view from our deck and beach loungers was postcard perfect. We spent most of our time at the adult pool area and everything there was gorgeous- they even do a sundowner set up on the beach that is spectacular. Honestly, this place is perfect for couples looking to switch off and reconnect with one another. Its an African island resort so if perfect wifi and top of the range Balsamic vinegar (yes, I actually heard people complaining about this) are what's important to you then this may not be the resort for you. The price point was worth every penny spent in my mind- for the view and the private beach loungers alone. There are plenty of free activities to keep you busy- walks along the beach, paddle boarding and kayaking. The dhow cruise (included in the stay) was also really special and worth doing. The sunsets are AMAZING- my poor phone photography skills just couldnt do them justice. We will definitely be going back!

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at Anantara. The helicopter transfer from Vilanculos airport was a treat and got us to the resort an hour ahead of those who used the speedboat transfer. The beach villa complete with plunge pool ensured we had the best view, the beach close to the villa and the added spoilt to have a pool. Our host Claudio was attentive, well-spoken and knowledgeable. The food was good, decent wine selection and the seafood was nothing short of brilliant. We will definitely be back.

During our 10-day stay at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort starting August 5, 2024, we experienced both the charm and the challenges of this tropical paradise. **Booking Process** The financial handling during the booking process was frustrating. We assumed our holiday was paid for on the Anantara website using American Express (a surcharge applied which was fine to us). However, just a few days before the intended arrival to Anantara, while already on holiday in the South African bush with limited access to mobile connectivity, we were informed that they could not process the American Express payment due to a banking system transition. We were asked to pay by bank transfer with unclear banking details, which were blocked by our bank's fraud department. This took a lot of time and effort to resolve. It would be much simpler if Anantara arranged a PayPal payment option or some other payment terminal which could easily avoid this kind of struggles. **Helicopter transfer and airport handling** The welcome and organisation on the Vilanculo airport by the Anatara staff was friendly and well organized delivering a swift pass through to the helicopter transfer. This helicopter ride over the azur blue ocean is an amazing experience to get to the resort. The pilot very friendly and experienced. **Accommodation and Facilities** The villas, while spacious and offering stunning ocean views, are noticeably outdated. The interior decor feels very old, with in example broken lamps, old useless kitchens as a memory to appartment style units in the past and curtain rails that no longer function properly. This detracted from the overall comfort and luxury we expected from an Anantara brand property. **Resort Infrastructure** The resort features, as a main walking infrastructure to get around, elevated wooden walkways and terraces, which are unfortunately in a state of disrepair. I even fell through one of the planks, and I am not particularly heavy. The lighting installed in these areas is exposed, posing a hazard, especially around the pool with water where children play. Additionally, the available airstrip is completely outdated, the tennis court has cracked and uneven tarmac, the artificial grass football field is half torn and damaged, all the signing is old and unreadable and the asphalt paths throughout the resort are all broken and worn out. A thorough renovation is urgently needed to address these safety concerns and to meet the high standards associated with the Anantara brand. **Staff and Service** Despite the outdated facilities, the staff performed wonders with the limited resources and outdated infrastructure and accommodation available. From housekeeping to the restaurants and reception, everyone was attentive and helpful. Their dedication and friendliness significantly enhanced our stay. **Food and Beverage Experience** Although we generally prefer à la carte dining, the buffets exceeded our expectations. The quality, themes, and variety were

We enjoyed our time at the resort because of the friendliness and professionalism of the staff looking after us. They went out of their way to accommodate and plan a birthday celebration for our group and we enjoyed our time poolside. The Bazaruto archipelago is remote, pristine and stunningly beautiful no matter where you look there is natural beauty everywhere. We were very fortunate to have this experience and thank the ones that made it possible.

It seems like people are paying 2 different prices for this place because we paid over $1000 US a night, the highest price we paid on a 5 week trip through Africa with a dozen different stays, and it was the least luxurious for the price. This was our last stop so we wanted it to be nice. We stayed 5 nights so we got a real feel for the place and I'm guessing if you only stayed 2 nights you might have a different impression. It was HOT (83* but felt like 93* with the humidity) when we arrived. The only AC in the whole resort is in your room. Our room had weak AC to start, that declined to nothing by the 3rd night. We found it hard to enjoy things when we were so hot, as we were sweating and lethargic. When we did call (nobody answered on the first call) they said "we will come put some gas in the AC unit for you" and it worked fine after. They had been servicing the room for 3 days and saw the AC was running out, but did nothing ~ not proactive and not 5 star service. The menu seems great until you are told that they don't have the tuna dishes and the pizza oven is not working, which remained true for 5 nights. The menu doesn't vary much at all, so 5 days of a similar menu is not 5 star. We were told drinks are included but only local rum or vodka drinks, that are made weak, are included. If you want a G&T, you pay $10. A bottle of white wine was $50-85 unless it was one of the 3 on the "included" menu. Drinks were not really 'inclusive' as implied when we booked. The spa was a joke! The spa has no working AC anywhere. In the women's locker room there are no chairs, blank walls with no art or decor anywhere, a smell of mold, hair blocking the shower drain, no shampoo at all, a sauna that didn't work, and the lockers don't lock in the changing area, so I had to go back down the hill to my room to shower after. The staff didn't pay attention to the forms we filled out with our preferences (they tried to rub spots I marked to be avoided so I had to ask them to stop). In the end, they overcharged us and then argued that we should pay the individual price X2 ($290) instead of a couples massage price we signed up for ($220). The management had to get involved and finally gave us the price stated on their own brochure ~ weird. We only went back for the second massage because it was the free one included in our package which they told us would be a "signature massage", not the Swedish massage we prefer, because no 'alterations' were allowed ~ ***? At these prices, $145 was the supposed value for an individual massage we were "gifted", that is nuts! They were purposefully unaccommodating. Sadly, we couldn't scuba dive because they said the water was not clear enough and they suggested we come back in April (not easy to do from California ;o). The horse back riding was great because they took us along the beach and through the small local village (paid extra). The small dhow boat sunset ride they included was nice. The waterskii